686 SCHOUW'S PHYTO-GEOGKAPHIC REGIONS. 



Yams, Cassava, Banana, Mango, Papaw, Pine-Apple, Cashew, Tama- 

 rind, Coflfee, Sugar, Cotton, Ginger, Cardamoms, Earth-nut, Oil-Palm, 

 Tobacco. 



L5. The Region of Cactacese and Piperaoe^ (Jacquin's Region). — 

 This embraces Mexico, New Grenada, Guiana, and Peru. These 

 natural orders are here predominant, both as regards the number of 

 species and the individual plants. Tropical orders are abimdant. 

 Murichi or Ita Palm, Phytelephas or Ivory Palm, and Victoria regia, 

 are found ui this region. Seemann states that the Isthmus of Panama 

 is characterised in part by the leaves of the plants being covered with 

 hair and tomentum, by the abundance of greenish, yellow, and white 

 flowers, and by the numerical superiority of Leguminosae, Melastom- 

 acesB, Composites, Cinchonacese, Orchids, and Perns. Anona Cheri- 

 molia yields the Cherimoyer, a famous Peruvian fruit. Mean tem- 

 perature, 68° to 84°. Cultivated plants : Maize, Guinea Corn, Cassava, 

 Yams, Batatas, Arracacha, Arrow-root, Plantain, Mango, Custard- 

 Apple, Guava, Coco-nut, Papaw, Avocado-Pear, Pine-Apple, Cashew, 

 Tamarind, GranadUla, Vine, Indian Fig, Jambos, Chocolate, VanOle, 

 Coffee, Sugar, Capsicum, Cochineal-Cactus, Cotton, Earth-nut. 



16. The" Region of the highlands of Mexico (Bonpland's Region). 

 — This embraces the districts which have an elevation of more than 

 -5000 feet above the level of the sea. Many European plants are 

 cultivated here, as well as Maize. Picea religiosa, Pinus apulcensis, P. 

 Hartwegii, P. Montezumas, and Taxodium distichum, are found ; also 

 species of Mirabilis, Cheirostemon, Dahlia, Zinnia, and Lopezia. 

 Mean temperature, 67° to 79° P. 



17. The Region of Cinchonas, or Medicinal Barks, Andes Flora 

 (Humboldt's Region). — This comprises a part of the elevated regions 

 or Cordilleras of South America, included in the torrid zone, the Aides 

 from 5000 to 9000 feet. The Cinchona belongs exclusively to this 

 region, and forms its principal feature. In the higher regions the 

 Potato and Quinoa are cultivated, as well as some European grains 

 and fruits. Ceroxylon Andicola, the Wax- Palm, also occurs in this 

 region of the Andes. In the lower districts Maize and Coffee are 

 stiU cultivated. Mean temperature, 59° to 68°. 



18. The Region of Escalloniaa and Calceolarise (Ruiz and Pavon's 

 Region). — It embraces the highest parts of South America, or that 

 portion of the chain of the Andes which extends from 9000 to 18,000 

 feet of elevation. Besides the plants mentioned, we meet with alpine 

 plants, as Saxifrages and Gentians, and species of Draba, Arenaria, 

 Carex, Lobelia, and Salvia, Espeletia, Aster, also Drimys Winteri, 



